Domestic fire claims are on the rise and you can speculate about the causes, but the data trend itself is worth noting when it comes to pricing risk. Is the use of candles replacing switching the light on in poorer households, or are people using candles as a kind of wellness therapy? Here’s the word from LV=
As the colder months creep in, and the cost of living rises, many will be looking to cut costs whilst trying to stay warm this winter. LV= General Insurance (LV= GI), one of the largest home insurers in the UK, is warning consumers to keep a close eye on items which cause fire hazards as claims from incidents involving electrical appliances and candles rise considerably. Overall with one year, fire claims have risen by 40% between 2021 – 2022.
Whether consumers have started using an electric blanket for extra heating, or lighting candles for light and ambience, fire hazards are always present. According to LV= GI new claims data, fires from candles rose an astonishing 1600% within one month from November – December 2021, and accounted for the highest number of candle related claims seen in the last few years. Volumes were up 70% from December 2020 and 54% from 2019.
However, when looking at fire claims by overall volume, electrical appliances top the list and account for the highest number of fire claims.
Electrical appliances, which account for around 23% of claims, have risen by 45% in a year from October 2021 – 2022. Cases involve an overloaded plug socket, used to power a TV, computer, printer and CCTV monitoring security system, a fire from a tumble dryer which was six years old, a hairdryer which was left on and overheated and an electrical fault linked to a hot water cylinder. Looking at claims within the kitchen, accidental cooking fires account for 11% of fire claims and involve items accidentally left on a hob which is switched on. LV= GI has also seen an increase of 66% from October 2021 – 2022.
LOG BURNER NOVICES
Many middle class people have invested in log burners, believing them to be cheaper than central heating, or at least a source of heat which the government, or utility companies cannot ration via power cuts. But log burners require some skills to clean, operate at temperature and seasoned wood. Then there’s the risks associated with coal fires, which very few people in the UK under 60 years of age know how to prep correctly.
When it comes to lighting a fire on a cold and frosty evening, many are leaving themselves open to hazards as they look for alternative ways to heat their homes. Claims relating to coal and log fires were up year on year, rising by 20% between January 2021 – January 2022. Between the months of December and January, claims rose by 50%, with accidents including flue blockages in log burners, ignition of soot and tar deposits within the chimney and hot coal falling out of an open fire.
It’s not just items around the home leaving consumers vulnerable to large scale fire claims. LV= GI has dealt with home claims where the age of a home and its electrical wiring has sparked a fire. 94% of electrical wiring related fires have happened in properties built pre-1992, before the British Standards Institute introduced wiring regulations, leaving homeowners at risk if fuse boxes and mains electrics aren’t checked. It’s recommended homeowners have electrical inspections every 5-10 years to determine the safety and condition of wiring within the house and can also indicate whether any work needs to be carried out.
Martin Milliner, Claims Director at LV= General Insurance comments, “There are so many hazards out there that will easily start a fire and we want to warn consumers about the risks through the insight and increase in claims we’re seeing. As the weather gets colder and we edge towards Christmas, we’re all going to be looking for alternative ways to heat and run our homes, and it’s about doing this in the safest way possible. Even small checks such as making sure sockets aren’t overloaded with Christmas lights will make a difference, as it doesn’t need to be a large item to spark and create a fire.”
Be the first to comment